Swap out stock tires for something more fuel friendly?

[Singler3360]

I posted this in the Conqueror 2023 UEV-14 thread but think it belongs in its own thread.

Tires! Tires! Tires!
With the super beefy stock tires on our Conqueror UEV-14, my wife and I are wondering if swapping them out for something off-road capable but lighter with less aggressive tread would improve gas mileage. We are thinking of taking a 6,000 mile road trip with lots of asphalt and only some FS/BLM dispersed camping this time. If we got just 2 mi/gal. better fuel economy, we calculated about a $300 cost saving at current gas prices. Are we nuts? Would we be disappointed in the ground clearance? Any other issues this might create?

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

I am not an expert. I am skeptical that you would get 2 mpg better with different tires. Not sure there is anyway to know for sure. What is the load rating of your current tires. I feel the at tires that come on off road trailers are more durable when you brush the side wall on rocks. Also if you air down they will hold up better.

 

[Todd780]

I wonder if the money spent to swap out the tires would negate any money saved in fuel?

 

[driveby]

You can probably get 2MPG better mileage by slowing down to 55 vs 65 and that's free (time excluded). You are pulling a brick. Smoother tires may get you 0.2MPG better but I really can't see much improvement. Not to mention quality tires of any type will be $150+ each negating any possible savings you may see. You can do $1000's of damage with a tire blowout by cheaping out on tires.

 

[stevo_pct]

I also doubt you will see much change in MPG with different tires. What are you towing with?

 

[eatSleepWoof]

If we got just 2 mi/gal. better fuel economy

You won't get any measurable difference in fuel economy.

 

[Singler3360]

Thanks for all the replies. Doesn't sound like it would be worth the cost (and risk).

We are towing with a 2014 Ford F-150 FX4 Ecoboost. I cleaned the throttle body and MAP sensors and went from 10 to 11 mpg!

 

[Todd780]

Thanks for all the replies. Doesn't sound like it would be worth the cost (and risk).

We are towing with a 2014 Ford F-150 FX4 Ecoboost. I cleaned the throttle body and MAP sensors and went from 10 to 11 mpg!

What size and make / model of tires are you running on the truck?